A student must first exhaust the complaint/grievance procedures
established by the institution.

Should the opinion of the student be that the complaint has not been resolved appropriately by the institution, the student may
submit the complaint to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).

Specific types of
complaints are handled by different agencies or organizations. A student
must submit a complaint to the
appropriate agency or organization as described below:

A complaint pertaining to occupational licensure requirements
is to be
submitted to the appropriate licensing board or entity. Licensing board
contact information is found in the institution’s catalog.

A complaint concerning
compliance with the standards of accreditation is to be
submitted to the institution's accrediting body. Accrediting body
contact information is found in the institution’s
catalog.

A complaint pertaining to potential violations of
consumer protection is to be submitted to:

Complaints involving alleged violations of the Education Article or the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) Title 13B Maryland Higher Education Commission, or a Private Career School’s own written institutional policies,
may be submitted to MHEC in the following manner:

A student may submit a complaint in
writing to MHEC when it involves an alleged violation of the
Education Article, COMAR, or school policy, but only after the student has
first exhausted the complaint/grievance procedures established by the
institution. A signed
PCS Student Complaint Form
(click on link to download) must be submitted to MHEC with copies of
supporting documentation included. The complaint
documents are to be submitted to:

Within 5 business days of receipt of a complaint,
MHEC will acknowledge its receipt and begin
investigating for evidence of violation of the Education
Article, COMAR, or school policy.

A copy of the student complaint and
documents will be provided to the institution's Director. MHEC will
require the Director Director to look into the matter and report back to
MHEC within 10 business days of receipt of MHEC notification.

Any requests
by MHEC to the school or the student complainant for information or
documents necessary for MHEC to achieve a determination of the complaint
must be answered by the school or the student complainant within 10 business
days following receipt of MHEC's request.

MHEC staff may interview the
institution employees, students, or the student complainant as part of its
investigation.

MHEC may take regulatory
action based on its review and in accordance with the Education Article and
COMAR Title 13B, and the manner for which the institution is approved to
operate.

MHEC will inform the student complainant and the
school Director in writing of its determination(s).

A complaint pertaining to matters other than those
addressed in the Education Article or COMAR Title 13B,
or pertaining to the institution's approved policies,
will not be entertained by MHEC, nor will it be referred
to another agency or organization.